ISME Blog

Jobs’ Initiatives Will Fail If Cost Competitiveness Not Addressed

ismeireland — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:34:37 +0000

Tweet Government sponsored business costs undermining competitiveness drive. Cynical and sneaky bank charge increases adding to inflation. No room for Government complacency as inflation remains at 0.5% ISME, Thursday 9th May 2013. ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, has warned the Government against complacency as the latest unchanged inflation figure of 0.5% [...]

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Interest Rate Reduction Must Be Passed On By Bailed-Out Banks

ismeireland — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:08:33 +0000

Tweet Business and consumers must benefit from interest rate cut. Government needs to pressure banks to pass on reduction to SMEs. Cynical rate increase by AIB last week indicative of greedy attitude. ISME, Thursday 2nd May 2013. ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, has welcomed the ECB decision to reduce interest rates [...]

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71% Of SMEs Yet To Start Preparations For SEPA

ismeireland — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:30:46 +0000

Tweet One in four SMEs aware of impact of SEPA. Banks must do more to inform business. Common standards, faster settlement and simplified processing will improve cash flow. ISME, Thursday 2nd May 2013. ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, published its survey on SME’s preparedness for SEPA (Single European Payments Area). The results [...]

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Jobs Crisis Continues

ismeireland — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:50:04 +0000

Tweet Long-term claimants account for a massive 44.6% of Live Register. Robust targeted stimulation combined with state sector cost reduction required. Government must tackle employment inhibitors, including high business costs, black economy and welfare constraints. Job creation is secondary to job maintenance for SMEs. ISME, Wednesday 1st May 2013. ISME, the Irish Small & Medium [...]

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ISME Welcomes Increased Funding For SMEs.

ismeireland — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:38:59 +0000

Tweet Small enterprises will benefit only if AIB reduces its refusal rate. ISME, Monday 29th April 2013 ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has welcomed the additional €200m funding made available by the EIB through AIB for Irish small & medium enterprises, announced today 29th April. ISME CEO, Mark Fielding stated that [...]

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Significant Rise In Business Scams As Two Thirds Of SMEs Targeted

ismeireland — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:41:07 +0000

Tweet 67% of SME businesses under attack from international fraudsters in last year. International Business Directories, False invoices and phishing* particularly problematic. Millions of euro at risk. Small enterprises must be extremely vigilant, particularly during holiday season. ISME, Monday 29th April 2013 ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has issued a warning [...]

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Retail Trade Struggles

ismeireland — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:32:06 +0000

Tweet “Do nothing” stance by Government as retailers go to the wall. Bailed-out banks screw troubled retailers with massive charge hikes. 40,000 retail jobs in jeopardy as disappointing Retail figures continue. ISME, Friday 26th April 2013. In reaction to the latest Retail Sales figures from the CSO, ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, [...]

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Scandalous Increase In Charges By Profit-Chasing Banks

ismeireland — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:55:32 +0000

Tweet AIB increasing charges by 165%. Bank of Ireland increase FX charges by up to 250%. Banks revert to gouging despite being bailed out. Government must intervene to stop this profiteering. Electronic transaction charges to increase by 23%. ISME, Wednesday 17th April 2013. At its meeting with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, [...]

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ISME Calls For Tax & Social Welfare Amnesty For Black Economy Operators

ismeireland — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:22:56 +0000

Tweet Rampant ‘nixer culture’ undercutting legitimate business. Dramatic increase in black economy costing State €5 billion. Jobs being lost due to illegal trading. ‘Rogue traders’ must be hit with tougher sanctions. 12 point plan to tackle Black Economy. ISME, Tuesday 16th April 2013. At its meeting with the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, [...]

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Government Cost Reduction Must Be Priority

ismeireland — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:02:24 +0000

Tweet ISME calls for parallel ‘Action Plan for Costs’. Continued rising business costs masked in inflation figures. Structural and policy changes required to protect hard-won competitiveness. ISME, Thursday 11th April 2013. ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, has called on the Government to drive a campaign to reduce the underlying costs in [...]

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